THE MYRTLE. 
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plants instead of masses. We would advise, therefore, that all annuals, unless it be those 
which are very tender, and have to be reared in frames, should always be sown where they 
are to flower. 
To obtain from annuals, moreover, their full meed of ornament, more attention should 
be paid to having successions of them than is usually given. Many of them only last a ( 
fortnight, three weeks, or a month, and of these regular sowings should be made at 
corresponding intervals, so that there may be some of each sort always in bloom. There 
are a very few which, by a little care in cutting off their seed-vessels, may be kept in flower 
all the season, and of these it will, of course, not be necessary to renew the sowings. It 
will be much better, by adopting this plan of successional sowings, to have part of the 
ground to be devoted to them unoccupied at first, than that they should all come into blossom 
at once, and all, likewise, except the few more durable ones, go out of flower at the same 
time. 
But it is especially desirable to have annuals in bloom both early in the spring and late 
in the autumn ; and if this were more commonly aimed at, they would undoubtedly retain 
their place as general favourites. Every one loves flowers that appear early ; and annuals 
that come into flower in April and May generally last twice as long as those of June, July, 
and August. In autumn, too, when the tints of the leaves are changing, and most of the 
summer ornaments have altogether vanished, or been spoiled by slight frosts, a few 
remaining patches of annuals serve to prolong the gladsome season, and are thus particularly 
welcome. 
Most of the really hardy annuals will stand through the winter of our climate, if only 
ordinarily severe. For spring flowering, they may be sown towards the end of September or 
beginning of October ; and if the somewhat absurd practice of digging over the borders in 
winter is adopted, the place of each group should be marked by a small stick, to prevent 
them from being dug up. For ensuring a good autumnal bloom, two sowings may be made 
at different periods in the month of August. 
THE MYRTLE. 
Eon many ages the common Myrtle ( Myrtus communis ) has been held in high 
estimation ; with the ancients it was also a great favourite, and was dedicated by them to 
Venus. The uses, both for domestic purposes and in medicine to which it was applied, 
were numerous. The young aromatic flower-buds and full grown unripe berries were 
generally eaten as spices, and were also used for that purpose in cookery, and a variety 
with white berries w 7 as, in the Greek Archipelago, considered superior to any other kind. 
The natives of Tuscany, at the present time, apply the berries to the same purposes we do 
those of the Clove Pepper ( Caryophyllus aromaticus), to which in flavour they bear some 
resemblance ; but the leaves and berries of another species, Myrtus piment aides, have 
exactly the smell and taste of the latter well-known spice. 
The branches and berries macerated in wine impart to it a peculiar aroma, and it 
received in consequence the name of Myrtle Wine or Myrtidanum, and something of the 
kind is still drunk and esteemed in Tuscany. The fine perfume known by the name of 
Eau d ’ Ange, is composed of little else than the distilled water of Myrtle flowers. The 
bark is also used in Italy, Greece, and some other countries, for tanning leather, in the 
same manner that we use that of the oak and larch. The leaves dried and powdered have, 
it is said, been substituted for sumach. All parts of the plant were considered useful in 
medicine, and the branches were considered symbolical of power and authority ; wreaths 
also of the branches, mingled with fragrant flowers, were placed on the heads of persons to 
whom particular honour was intended at their festivals. 
The Myrtle has always been greatly valued by the Jews, and was one of the plants 
directed to be used in their religious ceremonies at the Feast of Tabernacles; on this 
account it appears to have been extensively cultivated in Judsea and also throughout 
